Chef John’s Cheese Blintzes

Ingredients

• Batter:
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Filling:
• 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, strained if wet
• 1/2 cup cream cheese
• 1 lemon, zested
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon butter, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, or as needed for dusting

Directions

Place 3 eggs, flour, milk, water, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until completely smooth, 1 or 2 minutes, scraping down sides as needed. Let batter sit at room temperature 30 minutes.

Whisk together ricotta cheese, cream cheese, lemon zest, egg, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix together thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate.

Heat a 10-inch, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Spray or brush lightly with vegetable oil. Pour in about 1/4 cup batter. Immediately swirl batter around to coat bottom of pan. Cook until surface looks dry, about 1 minute. Flip crepe over to briefly cook other side, about 30 seconds. Remove to a plate. Repeat with the rest of batter. Stack crepes.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly butter a baking dish.

Spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons of filling onto the crepe, about an inch from edge nearest you. Fold edge over filling and flatten slightly. Fold in both sides, then roll up crepe into a small filled rectangle, ending with the seam on the bottom, creating a blintz.

Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Cook the blintzes until golden brown on both sides, turning gently, about 2 minutes. Transfer to buttered baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven to firm up the filling, about 12 minutes. Cool blintzes 10 minutes before serving. Dust lightly with confectioners' sugar.